Newslinks for Thursday 17th April 2025

Supreme Court backs ‘biological’ definition of woman

“Judges at the UK Supreme Court have unanimously ruled that a woman is defined by biological sex under equalities law. It marks the culmination of a long-running legal battle which could have major implications for how sex-based rights apply across Scotland, England and Wales. The court sided with campaign group For Women Scotland, which brought a case against the Scottish government arguing that sex-based protections should only apply to people that are born female.” – BBC

• Organisations ‘must revisit policies’ after ruling – The Times
• The courts have spelled out what our politicians are too scared to say – Suzanne Moore, Daily Telegraph
• Shame on the liberals who jumped aboard the trans bandwagon in a cruel betrayal of women and our rights – Julie Bindel, Daily Mail
• Reform UK leader claimed the ruling would be welcomed by “nearly the whole population” – Daily Express
• A long overdue victory for women – Leader, Daily Telegraph
• A victory for truth over faddish radicalism – Leader, The Times
• Let’s hope historic Supreme Court win for women hammers final nail in woke’s coffin – Leader, The Sun

Badenoch: We will hold the Government’s feet to the fire

“Now that we have legal clarity on the foundational question of the definition of sex, Keir Starmer should show some courage and do the right thing. And across the government and the public sector, managers must start to recognise that gender ideology is not an act of kindness to a perceived maligned minority. It is a very serious matter that can create risks and cause great discomfort to women and men, and children of both sexes. The Conservative Party under my leadership is the party of common sense. We will be holding the Government’s feet to the fire so that they do what is necessary, not what is trendy.” – Kemi Badenoch, Daily Telegraph

• Sir Keir Starmer slammed by campaigners and Kemi Badenoch for spending years failing to define a woman – The Sun

>Yesterday: Video: Jenrick: ‘Does equality before the law really exist anymore?’

White House expects British trade deal within three weeks

“White House officials believe a trade deal with Britain can be finalised within three weeks, The Telegraph can reveal. An insider familiar with the strategy said London was in a good position for a rapid deal although the UK will likely be in a second wave of announcements, following Japan, India, and South Korea, which Donald Trump wants to reach agreements with in order to isolate China.” – Daily Telegraph

• Meloni warned not to undermine EU in high-stakes meeting with Trump – Daily Telegraph
• Aligning with EU on emissions may drag UK into stand-off with Trump – The Times
• Labour select committee chairs call for parliament to vote on trade deal with US – The Guardian
• Ministers in ‘active conversation’ with UK drug firms over potential tariffs – The Guardian

Businesses warn new employment regulations will hit growth

“The five biggest business groups in the UK have written an open letter calling for urgent changes to the government’s Employment Rights Bill. The proposed new law, due to be scrutinised by the House of Lords this month, includes a right to guaranteed hours and cracks down on zero-hour contracts without the offer of work. But the British Chambers of Commerce, Confederation of British Industry, Institute of Directors, Federation of Small Businesses and Make UK warn the Bill in its current form could hit growth at an uncertain time for the UK economy.” – BBC

US to hold talks on Ukraine with Europeans

“Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and top diplomat Marco Rubio will hold talks with European counterparts in Paris today to discuss efforts to end the war in Ukraine. The talks – which UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy will also attend – form the highest level of transatlantic engagement about the war since February. In recent months, the US government has not exactly rushed to consult its European allies.” – BBC

• Trump’s refusal to condemn Putin is ‘demoralising’, says Shapps – Daily Telegraph
• Ukraine strikes missile brigades accused of Sumy massacre – Daily Telegraph

>Today: ToryDiary: We must give Ukraine the £25 billion of frozen Russian state assets in the UK

Record number of daily migrants cross Channel

“More than 700 migrants arrived in the UK yesterday, setting a record for the highest number of daily crossings this year. The Home Office said 705 migrants made the journey in 12 boats, exceeding the previous high for this year which was set on Saturday when 656 crossed in 11 boats. More arrivals have been recorded in January to April 2025 than in the equivalent four-month period in any year since data on Channel crossings began in 2018, putting ministers under further pressure to find a solution to the small boats crisis.” – Daily Mail

•  Ministers plot ‘one in one out’ asylum scheme – The Sun
• Starmer told to rip up migrant hotel contracts to save foreign aid budget – The Times

Interest rate cuts expected after fall in inflation

“UK inflation fell more than expected to 2.6 per cent in March, bolstering the case for the Bank of England to cut interest rates next month as it braces for the economic impact of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs…Following the release of the data, traders cemented their bets on at least three quarter-point cuts from the BoE by the end of the year, according to levels implied by swaps markets, with the chance of the first coming at May’s meeting put at 85 per cent.” – Financial Times

• Stealth raid is set to drag 18 MILLION more Brits into tax system including huge numbers of pensioners – Daily Mail

>Today: Columnist John Oxley: Generous mortgages are a symptom of the housing crisis, not a solution to it

People entitled to private conversations — if they don’t offend, says minister

“Private conversations in pubs must not affect people’s right to work in a “safe” environment, a minister has said, as she indicated there was a trade-off between free speech and workers’ rights. However, Lilian Greenwood, a transport minister, said it was an “exaggeration” to say that the rules in the Employment Rights Bill could threaten pubs with closure. She added it was “about getting the balance” between free speech and workers’ rights.” – The Times

• Football fans could be stopped from shouting ‘Are you blind?’ at refs under new law – The Sun
• If Labour’s ‘banter ban’ goes ahead, JD Vance will be right about free speech in Britain – Stephen Glover, Daily Mail

Mayor hits out at ‘Birmingham bashing’ as bin strike continues

“Birmingham should not be painted as “forever blighted by bins”, the region’s mayor has said, as the council refused to say how much taxpayers’ money had been spent cleaning up rubbish piled up on the city’s streets. Ministers called on unions to end a five-week strike that has left 21,000 tonnes of rubbish strewn across the city. However Unite, the union behind the walkout, has warned that strikes could spread to other cities where councils are cutting costs.” – The Times

• Is Britain heading for a summer of discontent? – The Times
• BBC fails to mention Labour’s role in bin strike chaos – Daily Telegraph
• Union leaders accuse council chiefs of lying over pay – The Sun
• Militant union baron inflicting bin strike misery on Birmingham residents from miles away – Daily Mail
• A wake-up call for Labour – Leader, The Guardian

>Today: Laura Weldon on Local Government: Recycling is not enough

British Steel’s Chinese owner says UK government must ‘respect’ its rights

“The Chinese owner of British Steel has called on the UK government to “respect and protect” its rights as a foreign investor after ministers dramatically seized control of the company over the weekend. In a statement to the FT issued by Zengwei An, chief executive of Jingye British Steel, the company expressed its “understanding” for the emergency law passed on Saturday after ministers made the rare decision to recall parliament. But the company added — in its first public comments on the saga — that it “request[s] that the UK government respect and protect the legitimate rights and interests of Jingye as a foreign investor throughout this process.” – Financial Times

• The Government needs a proper plan for steel – Leader, Financial Times
• Starmer’s EU net zero deal ‘to drive up energy bills’ – Daily Telegraph
• Why don’t we mutualise British Steel? – Bartek Staniszewski, City AM

>Today: Andrew Griffith on Comment: Labour’s plans for British Steel are pure, old-fashioned nationalisation

Other political news

• ‘Romeo and Juliet’ exemption means under-age sex need not be reported – The Times
• Second homes tax cash not being spent on local housing, councils admit – Daily Telegraph
• GPs in England will be able to claim £20 for every time patient is not sent to hospital – The Guardian
• Coffey: Losing mum and seat in July was traumatic – BBC
• MPs call for a “national play strategy” to boost the amount of time that children spend playing outdoors – Financial Times
• Reform candidate gets conduct reminder over tweets – BBC
• Ex-Labour politician Delyth Evans set to chair S4C – BBC
• Primary school offer day: London pupils most likely to miss out – The Times
• Churches targeted by criminals eight times a day – Daily Telegraph
• Woke calls to return British Museum’s Benin Bronzes to Nigeria should be rejected, Sir Trevor Philips says – The Sun
• Far-right activist Tommy Robinson loses appeal against prison sentence – Financial Times

Heath: Milei is a better role model than Trump

“Trump risks losing control of the narrative, taking down Right-wing parties in Australia and Canada with him, damaging the prospects of his friend Nigel Farage and providing succour to the never-Trumpers. Javier Milei, the anarcho-capitalist president of Argentina, has turned out to be a better role model. Yet while Trump can be stubborn, he is also eminently adaptable, especially when the polls turn against him. Self-interest will surely push him into signing trade deals with friendly countries, despite his nonsensical belief that America should be in surplus with every single nation.” – Allister Heath, Daily Telegraph

News in brief

• The Supreme Court ruling is a victory for women – Stephen Daisley, The Spectator
• Now repeal the Gender Recognition Act – Sarah Phillimore, The Critic
• Is your child ready for primary school? – Matt Buttery, CapX
• Is Reform UK coming for Holyrood? – Iain Macwhirter, Unherd
• Indoctrination of schoolchildren with gender ideology goes mainstream – Caroline ffiske, Daily Sceptic